Upper of football shoe and football shoes using the upper

ABSTRACT

Provided is a first cushioning material layered between an outer portion and an inner portion, and extending linearly from a forward position of a forefoot F of a wearer of a shoe, through a position corresponding to an MP joint at least on a medial side of the wearer&#39;s foot, toward a position rearward of the MP joint. The first cushioning material is configured such that a line width of a rearward cushioning portion in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is greater than a line width of a forward cushioning portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-238295 filed on Dec. 13, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an upper of a football shoe and football shoes using the upper.

An upper of a shoe, such as one disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/00484131 (Patent Document 1), has been known. The upper disclosed in Patent Document 1 is comprised of an inner layer, an outer layer, and an intermediate layer made of a polymer material between the inner and outer layers. The intermediate layer has a mesh structure constituted by a plurality of linear portions each having a uniform line width.

SUMMARY Technical Problem

In football, such as soccer, players (wearers of the shoes) need to make various movements during a play, and usually use an appropriate area of the foot depending on situations, such as trapping and kicking. That is, a football shoe is required to have different properties for respective areas of the foot so as to enable the various movements of the player.

The upper disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured such that each linear portion constituting the mesh structure has a uniform line width. That is, the upper disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to exhibit uniform cushioning properties regardless of areas of the wearer's foot.

However, when the wearer traps the ball at, for example, an approximately central area in the longitudinal direction of the foot, and the cushioning properties of a linear portion disposed at a position corresponding to said area of the foot is not sufficient, the momentum of the ball may not be reduced by the linear portion. Further, when, for example, the wearer kicks or touches the ball with the tiptoe of the foot, a linear portion disposed at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the tiptoe may touch the ball, and the wearer may sometimes be unable to feel clearly a touch of the ball to the shoe.

In this manner, it is difficult for the upper disclosed in Patent Document 1 to exhibit different properties for various movements of the player at respective areas of the foot as mentioned above.

In view of the foregoing background, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a shoe which can exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

Specifically, a first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an upper of a football shoe, the upper including an upper body. The upper body includes an outer portion disposed on an outer side of the shoe and an inner portion layered on an inner side of the outer portion. The upper body is provided with a first cushioning material layered between the outer portion and the inner portion, and extending linearly from a forward position of a forefoot F of a wearer of the shoe, through a position corresponding to an MP joint at least on a medial side of the wearer's foot, toward a position rearward of the MP joint. The first cushioning material includes: a forward cushioning portion disposed in a forward region, of the upper, located forward of the position corresponding to the MP joint; and a rearward cushioning portion disposed in a rearward region, of the upper, continuous with the forward cushioning portion and located rearward of the position corresponding to the MP joint. The rearward cushioning portion is configured such that a line width in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first cushioning material is greater than a line width of the forward cushioning portion.

According to the first aspect, the first cushion member can provide cushioning properties to the medial side of the wearer's foot including the position corresponding to the MP joint. The first cushioning material is configured such that the rearward cushioning portion has a greater line width than the forward cushioning portion. That is, the cushioning properties are more improved in the rearward region of the upper, than in the forward region of the upper, by the rearward cushioning portion. Thus, when, for example, the wearer traps the ball at an area of the foot rearward of the position corresponding to the MP joint on the medial side, the rearward cushioning portion can reduce the momentum of the ball appropriately. That is, it becomes easier to trap the ball at the area of the foot rearward of the MP joint on the medial side of the foot. On the other hand, the forward region of the upper has reduced cushioning properties due to the forward cushioning portion, compared to the rearward region. Instead, the forward region includes a relatively high percentage of area where only the outer and inner portions are present. Therefore, the wearer of the shoe can easily feel a touch of the ball to the forward region of the shoe. In other words, the upper body and the forward cushioning portion allow the wearer to have the feeling close to bare foot in the forward region. In this manner, according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the shoe can exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

A second aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the first aspect. In the second aspect, the first cushioning material is configured such that the line width gradually increases from a forward position of the forefoot on the medial side toward a rear end.

According to the second aspect, the cushioning properties of the first cushioning material gradually increase from the forward region toward the rearward region on the medial side of the upper. In other words, the cushioning properties of the first cushioning material do not change considerably in the longitudinal direction of the shoe. This configuration contributes to reducing and preventing extreme difference in the cushioning properties among areas of the foot, which enables the shoe to exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

The third aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the first aspect. In the third aspect, the first cushioning material is configured such that the line width of a front end of the forward cushioning portion is half or less of the line width of a rear end of the rearward cushioning portion.

This configuration according to the third aspect contributes to a gradual increase in the cushioning properties of the first cushioning material from the forward region toward the rearward region on the medial side of the upper without generating discomfort.

The fourth aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the first aspect. In the fourth aspect, the rearward cushioning portion has a greater thickness than the forward cushioning portion.

According to the fourth aspect, the difference in the thickness between the forward cushioning portion and the rearward cushioning portion contributes to the greater cushioning properties of the rearward region than the cushioning properties of the forward region. This configuration allows the shoe to exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot more easily.

The fifth aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the first aspect. In the fifth aspect, the first cushioning material includes a plurality of first cushioning materials, and the plurality of first cushioning materials are arranged so as to be apart from one another in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction.

This configuration according to the fifth aspect contributes to increasing the cushioning properties appropriately over a wide area of the upper body, while maintaining properties of each first cushioning material.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the fifth aspect. In the sixth aspect, the upper further includes a second cushioning material layered between the outer portion and the inner portion and extending linearly so as to intersect with the plurality of first cushioning materials, and the second cushioning material is formed integrally with each of the first cushioning materials.

This configuration according to the sixth aspect, in which the plurality of first cushioning materials and the second cushioning material are formed integrally, contributes to preventing the positional displacement or shape deformation of particularly the first cushioning materials.

The seventh aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the first aspect. In the seventh aspect, the upper further includes a plurality of third cushioning materials disposed on a lateral side, layered between the outer portion and the inner portion, and extending linearly, and the third cushioning materials are disposed at different positions from the first cushioning material.

According to the seventh aspect, the third cushioning materials can be positioned at an area where none of the first cushioning materials is provided. Thus, the shoe can exhibit the cushioning properties on the lateral side of the upper, as well.

The eighth aspect of the present disclosure is an embodiment of the seventh aspect. In the eighth aspect, a reinforcing material configured to reinforce the upper layered at least between each of the third cushioning materials and the outer portion or between each of the third cushioning materials and the inner portion.

According to the eighth aspect, the reinforcing material can reinforce the lateral side of the upper. In particular, the reinforcing material increases the feeling that the foot is held tight by the upper, which contributes to reducing a load applied to the foot when the wearer makes a quick turn in the lateral direction and the weight shift toward the lateral side occurs.

A ninth aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a football shoe including the upper for a football shoe of any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present disclosure.

According to the ninth aspect, the football shoes can exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, the present disclosure can provide a shoe which can exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shoe, as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a plan view generally illustrating a first cushioning material with a skeletal structure of a foot, as viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the shoe, as viewed from a medial side.

FIG. 5 is a side view generally illustrating the first cushioning material with a skeletal structure of a foot, as viewed from the medial side.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the shoe, as viewed from a lateral side.

FIG. 7 is a development of the upper.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a shoe according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, and corresponds to FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is the shoe according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and corresponds to FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description of the embodiments is a mere example in nature, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of the present invention.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate the whole of a football shoe S according to a first embodiment. The shoe S is used as a pair of shoes for various kinds of football plays, such as soccer, rugby, and American football.

The drawings illustrate a left shoe S only as an example. Since the right shoe is symmetrical to the left shoe, only the left shoe will be described in the following description, and the description of the right shoe will be omitted herein. In the following description, the expressions “above,” “upward,” “on a/the top of,” “below,” “under,” and “downward,” represent the vertical positional relationship between respective components of the shoe S. The expressions “front,” “fore,” “forward,” “anterior,” “rear,” “hind,” “behind,” “backward,” and “posterior” represent the positional relationship in the longitudinal direction between respective components of the shoe S. The expressions “medial side” and “lateral side” represent the positional relationship in the foot width direction between respective components of the shoe S.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shoe S has a sole 1 which supports the plantar surface of the wearer, and an upper 2 which covers the foot of the wearer.

The sole 1 is made of a soft elastic material, for example. Specifically, the sole 1 is made of thermoplastic resin such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and foams thereof, and thermosetting resin such as polyurethane (PU) and foams thereof. The bottom surface of the sole 1 is provided with a plurality of studs 11, 11, . . . .

(Upper)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the upper 2 is disposed above the sole 1. The upper 2 includes an upper body 21 configured to cover the wearer's foot from the tiptoe of the forefoot F to the heel of the hindfoot H. The upper body 21 is configured to correspond to the shape of the wearer's foot and protect the wearer's foot appropriately.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper 2 includes a forward region 22 and a rearward region 23. Specifically, the forward region 22 is located forward of a position corresponding to the MP joints (indicated by the reference character “MP” in FIG. 3) of the wearer's foot. The rearward region 23 is located rearward of the position corresponding to the MP joints.

An ankle opening 5 is formed at a rear portion of the upper 2. The ankle opening 5 has substantially an elliptical shape having the major axis extending in the longitudinal direction so as to fit the periphery of the ankle of the wearer's foot. A throat opening 6 is formed at a forward position of the upper 2. The throat opening 6 is continuous with the front end of the ankle opening 5 and is open so as to extend forward from the front end of the ankle opening 5. The throat opening 6 is located at the instep of the wearer's foot. The front end of the throat opening 6 is located at a position corresponding to substantially a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the forefoot F of the wearer's foot.

(Upper Body)

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the upper body 21 includes an outer portion 25 disposed on the outer side of the shoe S (the surface side as viewed from the outside of the shoe S), and an inner portion 26 layered on the inner side of the outer portion 25. The outer portion 25 is made of synthetic leather, for example. The inner portion 26 is made of a polyester yarn fabric, for example. The outer and inner portions 25 and 26 are bonded to each other by an adhesive layer 41.

The upper body 21 is configured such that areas where first to third cushioning materials 31 to 33 are provided (which will be described later) are thicker than the other areas of the upper body 21 and bulge outward to have outwardly curved surfaces (see FIGS. 8 to 10).

(First Cushioning Material)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the medial side of the upper body 21 is provided with a plurality of first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . (three first cushioning materials in the drawings). Each of the first cushioning materials 31 is made of urethane foam, for example, and is layered between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26 through the adhesive layer 41. Each of the first cushioning materials 31 is formed to have a uniform thickness in a state before being layered between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the front end of each first cushioning material 31 is disposed in the forward region 22 of the upper 2. Specifically, the front end of each first cushioning material 31 is located closer to the lateral side, in the forward region 22, with respect to a middle portion in the foot width direction of the upper 2. The front end of each first cushioning material 31 is disposed at a position corresponding to an area of the forefoot F forward of the tiptoe.

Each of the first cushioning materials 31 extends from the forward region 22 to the rearward region 23, and has a gently curved shape. Specifically, each first cushioning material 31 extends from a position, in the forward region 22, which corresponds to the tiptoe of the forefoot F, through a position corresponding to an MP joint, and toward the rearward region 23.

The first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , are disposed so as to be apart from one another in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of each first cushioning material 31 (hereinafter referred to as the “orthogonal direction”). One of the first cushioning materials 31, the front end of which is located at a frontmost position, is arranged such that the rear end thereof is located, for example, at a position corresponding to the first metatarsal MT1 of the foot in the forefoot F. The other first cushioning materials 31 and 31 are arranged such that the rear ends thereof are located at positions corresponding to the hindfoot H.

Each first cushioning material 31 includes a forward cushioning portion 31 a formed in the forward region 22 and a rearward cushioning portion 31 b formed in the rearward region 23. The forward cushioning portion 31 a and the rearward cushioning portion 31 b are continuous with each other.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, each first cushioning material 31 is configured such that the line width in the orthogonal direction gradually increases from the front end toward the rear end. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the front end of the forward cushioning portion 31 a has a line width W1 that is half or less of a line width W2 of the rear end of the rearward cushioning portion 31 b. That is, the rearward cushioning portion 31 b has a greater line width than the forward cushioning portion 31 a.

The first cushioning material 31 is configured such that the thickness gradually increases from the front end toward the rear end. In the first cushioning material 31, the front end of the forward cushioning portion 31 a has a thickness T1 that is half or less of a thickness T2 of the rear end of the rearward cushioning portion 31 b. That is, the rearward cushioning portion 31 b has a greater thickness than the forward cushioning portion 31 a.

(Second Cushioning Material)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper body 21 is provided with a plurality of second cushioning materials 32, 32, . . . (two second cushioning materials in the drawings). The second cushioning materials 32, 32 are made of the same material as the first cushioning material 31, and are integrally formed with the first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . . Specifically, the first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , and the second cushioning materials 32, 32 are obtained, for example, from a plate-like cushioning material through die-cutting.

Similarly to the first cushioning materials 31, each second cushioning material 32 is layered, and compressed, between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26 through the adhesive layer 41. Each second cushioning material 32 is formed to have substantially a uniform line width. Each second cushioning material 32 is formed to have a uniform thickness in a state before being layered between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26.

The second cushioning materials 32 linearly extend so as to intersect with the first cushioning materials 31. Specifically, one of the second cushioning materials 32 is disposed at a middle portion in the foot width direction of the upper 2, and connects the front ends of the first cushioning materials 31, 31 to one another. The other one of the second cushioning materials 32 is disposed on the medial side of the upper 2, and connects middle portions of the first cushioning materials 31, 31 to one another.

(Third Cushioning Material)

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the upper 2 is provided with a plurality of third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . . The third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , are made of the same material as the first cushioning material 31, and are integrally formed with one another. Specifically, the third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , are obtained, for example, from a plate-like cushioning material through die-cutting.

The third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , are disposed in the rearward region 23 on the lateral side of the upper 2. The third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , are layered, and compressed, between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26 through the adhesive layer 41. Each of the third cushioning materials 33 is formed to have a uniform thickness in a state before being layered between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, each third cushioning material 33 is provided with a reinforcing material 33 a intended to reinforce the upper 2. The reinforcing material 33 a is made of a nonwoven fabric, for example. The reinforcing material 33 a is layered between the third cushioning material 33 and the inner portion 26, and adheres to the entire area of the surface of the third cushioning material 33 facing the inner portion 26.

(Production Method of Upper)

Now, a production method of the upper 2 will be described.

First, two hot melt sheets layered one above the other are placed between the outer portion 25 and the inner portion 26. The first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , and the second cushioning materials 32, 32 are placed between the hot melt sheets at predetermined positions. Similarly, the third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , are placed between the hot melt sheets at predetermined positions with the reinforcing material 33 a located toward the inner portion 26.

Thereafter, these materials are compressed in the vertical direction while being heated. Through this process, the hot melt sheets turns into the adhesive layer 41, and the respective material are layered. The upper 2 is obtained in this manner.

As mentioned above, each of the first and second cushioning materials 31, 32 are integrated with one another, which facilitates positioning of the cushioning materials 31, 32 in the manufacture of the upper 2, and also reduces deformation of the cushioning materials 31, 32.

Advantages of the First Embodiment

In this manner, the upper body 21 is provided with the first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , extending linearly from a forward position of the forefoot F of the wearer, through a position corresponding to an MP joint at least on the medial side, toward a position rearward of the MP joint. The first cushion members 31, 31, . . . , can provide cushioning properties to the medial side of the wearer's foot including the position corresponding to the MP joint. Each of the first cushioning materials 31 is configured such that the rearward cushioning portion 31 b has a greater line width than that of the forward cushioning portion 31 a. That is, the cushioning properties are more improved in the rearward region 23 of the upper 2, than in the forward region 22 of the upper 2, by the rearward cushioning portion 31 b. Thus, when, for example, the wearer traps the ball at an area of the foot rearward of the position corresponding to the MP joints, the rearward cushioning portion 31 b can reduce the momentum of the ball appropriately. That is, it becomes easier to trap the ball at the area of the foot rearward of the MP joints on the medial side of the foot. On the other hand, the forward region 22 of the upper 2 has the reduced cushioning properties due to the forward cushioning portion 31 a, compared to the rearward region 23. Instead, the forward region 22 includes a relatively high percentage of area where only the outer and inner portions 25 and 26 are present. Therefore, the wearer of the shoe S can easily feel a touch of the ball to the forward region 22 of the shoe S. In other words, the upper body 21 and the forward cushioning portion 31 a allow the wearer to have the feeling close to bare foot in the forward region 22. In this manner, the upper 2 of the shoe S according to the present embodiment can exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

Each first cushioning material 31 is configured such that the line width in the orthogonal direction gradually increases from a forward portion of the forefoot F toward the rear end. This means that the cushioning properties of each of the first cushioning materials 31 gradually increase from the forward region 22 toward the rearward region 23 on the medial side of the upper 2. In other words, the cushioning properties of each of the first cushioning materials 31 do not change considerably in the longitudinal direction of the shoe S. This configuration contributes to reducing and preventing extreme difference in the cushioning properties among areas of the foot, which enables the shoe to exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

In particular, the line width W1 of the front end of the forward cushioning portion 31 a is half or less of the line width W2 of the rear end of the rearward cushioning portion 31 b. This configuration contributes to a gradual increase in the cushioning properties of each of the first cushioning materials 31 from the forward region 22 toward the rearward region 23 on the medial side of the upper 2 without generating discomfort.

Furthermore, two of the first cushioning materials 31, 31 extend up to the positions corresponding to the midfoot M located rearward of the first metatarsal MT1. Besides, the first cushioning materials 31 are configured to have a line width which is gradually increased toward the rear side. This means that areas of the shoe S which can exhibit the cushioning properties through the rearward cushioning portions 31 b, 31 b in the rearward region 23 extend up to the portions corresponding to the midfoot M. That is, the area of the shoe S at which the ball can be trapped extends to the middle foot M. Thus, even when, for example, the ball hits the foot at the vicinity of the midfoot M contrary to the will of the wearer of the shoe S, the wearer can trap the ball at a position corresponding to the midfoot M due to the presence of the rearward cushioning portions 31 b, 31 b of the first cushioning materials 31, 31.

The rearward cushioning portion 31 b has a greater thickness than the forward cushioning portion 31 a. This difference in the thickness between the forward cushioning portion 31 a and the rearward cushioning portion 31 b contributes to the greater cushioning properties of the rearward region 23 than the cushioning properties of the forward region 22. This configuration allows the shoe S to exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot more easily.

The first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , are disposed so as to be apart from one another in the orthogonal direction. This configuration contributes to increasing the cushioning properties appropriately over a wide area of the upper body 21, while maintaining properties of each first cushioning material 31.

The first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , and the second cushioning materials 32, 32 are integrally formed with one another. This configuration contributes to preventing the positional displacement or shape deformation of particularly the first cushioning materials.

The third cushioning material 33 contribute to the cushioning properties of the rearward region 23 on the lateral side of the upper 2.

Each third cushioning material 33 is provided with the reinforcing material 33 a, which can reinforce the lateral side of the upper 2. In particular, the reinforcing material 33 a increases the feeling that the foot is held tight by the upper 2, which contributes to reducing a load applied to the foot when the wearer makes a quick turn in the lateral direction and the weight shift toward the lateral side occurs.

Variation of First Embodiment

The first embodiment illustrates a configuration having the second cushioning materials 32, 32 and the third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , as a non-limiting example. None of the second and third cushioning materials 32, 33, but only the first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , may be provided as a variation of the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, such a configuration too can exhibit different properties according to different areas of the wearer's foot.

Alternatively, another cushioning material (not shown) having a similar configuration to the configuration of the first cushioning materials 31, 31, . . . , may be provided on the lateral side of the upper 2 as another variation of the first embodiment.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a shoe S according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The shoe S of the second embodiment differs from the shoe S of the first embodiment mainly in that fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . , are provided. Note that the other configurations of the shoe S of the second embodiment are the same as those of the shoe S of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference characters are used to designate the same elements as those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10, and detailed description thereof is omitted herein.

(Fourth Cushioning Material)

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper body 21 is provided with a plurality of fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . (six fourth cushioning materials in the drawings). The fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . , are made of the same material as the first cushioning material 31, 31, . . . , and the second cushioning materials 32, 32, . . . . The fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . , are formed integrally with the first cushioning material 31, 31, . . . , and the second cushioning materials 32, 32, . . . . Specifically, the first cushioning materials 31, 31, the second cushioning materials 32, 32, and the fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . , are obtained, for example, from a plate-like cushioning material through die-cutting.

Similarly to the other cushioning materials 31, 32, and 33, each fourth cushioning material 34 is layered, and compressed, between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26 through the adhesive layer 41. The fourth cushioning material 34 is configured such that the width and thickness thereof gradually increase from the front end toward the rear end. Each fourth cushioning material 34 is formed to have a uniform thickness in a state before being layered between the outer and inner portions 25 and 26.

Two of the fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . , disposed on the medial side extend substantially parallel with the first cushioning material 31, 31, . . . .

Specifically, of the two fourth cushioning materials 34, 34 disposed on the medial side, one located forward of the other is disposed forward of the one of the first cushioning materials 31 located at the frontmost position. The forward one of the fourth cushioning materials 34 disposed on the medial side is disposed such that the front and rear ends thereof are located in the forward region 22.

The rearward one of the two fourth cushioning materials 34, 34 disposed on the medial side is configured such that the front end is located rearward of the front end of the rearmost first cushioning material 31, and that the rear end is located slightly forward of the rearmost first cushioning material 31. The rearward one of the fourth cushioning materials 34 disposed on the medial side is disposed such that the front and rear ends are located in the rearward region 23.

Four of the fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . , disposed on the lateral side extend rearward from the second cushioning material 32 disposed at a middle portion of the upper 2 in the foot width direction, so as to curve gently.

Specifically, the frontmost one of the four fourth cushioning materials 34, 34 disposed on the lateral side is configured such that the front end is located at the same position where the front end of the forward one of the fourth cushioning materials 34 disposed on the medial side is located. The front ends of the other fourth cushioning materials 34, 34 disposed on the lateral side are located at the same positions where the front ends of the first cushioning materials 31 are located.

(Second Cushioning Material)

The second cushioning materials 32, 32 intersect with the first cushioning material 31, 31, . . . , and the fourth cushioning materials 34, 34, . . . . Specifically, the second cushioning material 32 disposed at the middle portion in the foot width direction of the upper 2 connects the front ends of the first cushioning materials 31, the fourth cushioning materials 34 disposed on the lateral side, and the forward one of the fourth cushioning materials 34 disposed on the medial side. The second cushioning material 32 disposed on the medial side connects, on the medial side, the middle portions of the first cushioning materials 31 and the middle portions of the fourth cushioning materials 34 disposed on the medial side.

Advantages of the Second Embodiment

The second embodiment provides the fourth cushion materials 34, 34, . . . , and allows more cushioning materials to be disposed in a wider area of the shoe S. Thus, the cushioning properties of the shoe S may be further improved.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The above embodiments illustrate, as non-limiting examples, that the line width of each first cushioning material 31 in the orthogonal direction gradually increases from the front end on the medial side toward the rear end. For example, each of the first cushioning materials 31 may be configured such that the forward cushioning portion 31 a has a first width dimension which is uniform, and that the rearward cushioning portion 31 b has a second width dimension which is uniform and wider than the first width dimension. In short, it is only essential that the rearward cushioning portion 31 b have a greater line width in the orthogonal direction than the forward cushioning portion 31 a.

The above embodiments illustrate, as non-limiting examples, that the reinforcing material 33 a is layered between each third cushioning materials 33 and the inner portion 26. For example, the reinforcing material 33 a may be layered between each third cushioning material 33 and the outer portion 25. Alternatively, the reinforcing material 33 a may be layered between each third cushioning material 33 and the inner portion 26 and between each third cushioning material 33 and the outer portion 25. That is, it is only essential that the reinforcing member 33 a be layered at least between each of the third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , and the outer portion 25 or between each of the third cushioning materials 33, 33, . . . , and the inner portion 26.

The above embodiments illustrate, as non-limiting examples, that the front end of each first cushioning material 31 is located closer to the lateral side with respect to the middle portion in the foot width direction of the upper 2. The front end of each first cushioning material 31 may be located closer to the medial side with respect to the middle portion in the foot width direction of the upper 2.

The present disclosure is industrially applicable as an upper of shoes for various kinds of football, such as soccer, rugby, and American football, and as shoes using the upper. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An upper of a football shoe, the upper including an upper body, wherein the upper body includes an outer portion disposed on an outer side of the shoe and an inner portion layered on an inner side of the outer portion, the upper body is provided with a first cushioning material layered between the outer portion and the inner portion, and extending linearly from a forward position of a forefoot F of a wearer of the shoe, through a position corresponding to an MP joint at least on a medial side of the wearer's foot, toward a position rearward of the MP joint, the first cushioning material includes a forward cushioning portion disposed in a forward region, of the upper, located forward of the position corresponding to the MP joint, and a rearward cushioning portion disposed in a rearward region, of the upper, continuous with the forward cushioning portion and located rearward of the position corresponding to the MP joint, and the rearward cushioning portion is configured such that a line width in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first cushioning material is greater than a line width of the forward cushioning portion.
 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein the first cushioning material is configured such that the line width gradually increases from a forward position of the forefoot on the medial side toward a rear end.
 3. The upper of claim 1, wherein the first cushioning material is configured such that the line width of a front end of the forward cushioning portion is half or less of the line width of a rear end of the rearward cushioning portion.
 4. The upper of claim 1, wherein the rearward cushioning portion has a greater thickness than the forward cushioning portion.
 5. The upper of claim 1, wherein the first cushioning material includes a plurality of first cushioning materials, and the plurality of first cushioning materials are arranged so as to be apart from one another in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction.
 6. The upper of claim 5, further comprising: a second cushioning material layered between the outer portion and the inner portion and extending linearly so as to intersect with the plurality of first cushioning materials, wherein the second cushioning material is formed integrally with each of the first cushioning materials.
 7. The upper of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of third cushioning materials disposed on a lateral side, layered between the outer portion and the inner portion, and extending linearly, wherein the third cushioning materials are disposed at different positions from the first cushioning material.
 8. The upper of claim 7, wherein a reinforcing material configured to reinforce the upper layered at least between each of the third cushioning materials and the outer portion or between each of the third cushioning materials and the inner portion.
 9. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 1. 10. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 2. 11. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 3. 12. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 4. 13. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 5. 14. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 6. 15. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 7. 16. A football shoe comprising the upper of claim
 8. 